In 1984, I came to the US as a child and refugee of the Vietnam War, which to us Vietnamese, is considered the American War. I now live in Mechanicsburg, PA. The memories of my former homeland and the aftermath of the war are very limited, but through stories both from the history books, documentaries, and from various families and friends, I have come to understand better all the sides of this sad conflict. I am torn about how I feel, but I am always grateful to be where I am today. My family and I owe a lot to the American as well as the South Vietnamese soldiers whose contributions are not emphasized enough. My only hope is (and was until Nov 8) that my new homeland, the United States of America, will learn its lessons and move forward, not backwards.